With a team full of players on expiring contracts, this season has been something of a tryout for a lot of young players. The Lakers have been able to evaluate a number of guys to see who would be a fit for the Lakers in coming years.
Two players who have made a huge impression are the Lakers young point guards, Kendall Marshall and Jordan Farmar. Both players have had some great stretches for the Lakers this season.
Marshall was brought on when the Lakers had no healthy point guards and stepped up to lead the team. He is a true point guard with excellent court vision and passing ability, but his lack of athleticism hurts him on defense.
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Farmar, meanwhile, has struggled with injuries, but has played well when healthy. His athleticism and leadership on this Lakers team has been essential for a team lacking in veteran leaders.
It is unlikely that the Lakers will retain both of these young guards, so we asked our panel of experts: Who would you rather see as the Lakers point guard of the future, Kendall Marshall or Jordan Farmar? This is what they had to say:
Ramneet Singh (@Ramneet24): The Los Angeles Lakers have two solid point guards on the roster and the future looks bright with Kendall Marshall and Jordan Farmar running the back court.
Farmar and Marshall bring different assets to the table, but at the end of the day they can both run the Lakers offense very well. Marshall, 22, and Farmar, 27, have represented two of the few bright spots for the coaching staff this season, and have been productive whenever they are on the court.
However, I would give the nod to Marshall based on the fact that his numbers have been stellar ever since joining the Lakers and he still has many years ahead of him to improve. Although Farmar does have more experience and poise under pressure thanks to winning those two NBA championships, Marshall’s 9.2 points and 9.4 assists per game are hard to look over.
Marshall has an uncanny knack of finding open teammates and his playmaking abilities are amazing. Although he is no All-Star point guard yet, if the former UNC Tar Heel can develop his game further, he will one day be an elite guard.
At this point, Marshall should try to improve on the defensive end to try to keep up with the other athletic guards in this league.
Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015): I would like to see Jordan Farmar eventually handed the reigns to the offense.
Kendall Marshall came in and played well, but we’ve seen him struggle a bit as of late, which is to be anticipated. Meanwhile, Farmar has been a consistent contributor when he’s been able to stay healthy.
I think what also needs to be considered is who the head coach will be. Marshall is an excellent fit for Mike D’Antoni’s system, but would he flourish as much under a different coach? I’m not so sure. That being said, I do believe there is room for Marshall on the team as a backup point guard.
Farmar has also been through the battles with the Lakers and won multiple titles. He’s aware of the pressure that comes with being a Lakers point guard and he’s been open about the fact that he missed playing in LA.
Marshall has played well, but it hasn’t come under the normal pressure that coincides with playing for the Lakers. Farmar also has the leg up on Marshall with respects to athleticism, which at the point guard position, can’t be undervalued.
Ryan Ward (@Lakers_Examiner): Jordan Farmar may be coming off a career night against the division rival Sacramento Kings, but I believe Kendall Marshall is the best option for this team at the point guard position.
Over the past few games, Marshall has begun to struggle with many different parts of his game, but he was bound to hit a wall at some point as most players do. Although he has struggled lately, Marshall still has a lot of potential to be a starter in this league.
The only thing that I can see derailing his progress is the Lakers drafting a point guard in the upcoming 2014 NBA Draft. Taking a point guard with a high pick is a possibility with Dante Exum potentially being in the team’s crosshairs.
As for the debate over Farmar or Marshall as the starter moving forward, I’d go with the UNC product as I believe he has more upside at this point in time.
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